By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) of Bacolod City approved the request made by Bacolod Real Estate Development Corporation (Bredco) president Jon Alonte for a Resolution of No Objection (RONO) over a proposed 300-hectare reclamation project in the city.

Bacolod City Councilor Caesar Distrito said the proposed project will reclaim land from the Bacolod Baywalk to the Guimaras Strait.

The city would benefit should the project be approved as it would get an additional 30 hectares of land without cost on top of additional revenue, added Distrito.

Bredco has previously reclaimed some 250 hectares of land in Bacolod where a port was built.

This reclamation project contributes at least P50 million to the city government through its real property tax.

According to Distrito, a new reclamation project would also attract more business investments in Bacolod.

New businesses would have a “multiplier effect” in local employment, he added.

The city will also get at least 90 hectares of roads, drainage, sidewalks, and open spaces from the project.

Eleven councilors voted “yes” for the RONO request. Councilors RenecitoNovero and Claudio Puentevella were out of the session hall at the time of voting.

Councilor Ricardo Tan, meanwhile, remains on leave.

According to Alonte, they will invest a total of P24 billion for the additional 300-hectare reclamation./DGB, WDJ